Chapter 15: To Malfoy Manor

Disclaimer: Nothing is owned by me.

Easter was upon them, Elizabeth was both anticipating and dreading the event that was to come. After all, she was heading straight into the lion's den... Well, the Serpents Lair would be more accurate giving who she was going to be staying with for the next few days but either worked. She would be taking the train with the Students back to London and meeting the Malfoys at the station. Draco had practically insisted that she sit with him on the train journey and she had agreed to do so. She briefly wondered who else would be in there as well but figured that it would be Crabbe and Goyle along with a few others. She looked at the book that she was going to be taking with her, a book on magical creatures that had arrived the morning before. An elf had appeared to take her clothes, he looked a bit worse for wear and was nervous around her as he took her bags. She didn't even catch his name before he took her stuff straight to Malfoy Manor.

A little voice in her mind questioned the action, was it that they wanted to be helpful or was it that the items taken were going to be searched through before she arrived. The only reason she had agreed for the elf to take it was because of the look of fear in his eyes when she had hesitated to let him take it. It reminded her of some of the actions the black people in Columbia had taken when she and Booker had entered areas that white people were dissuaded from entering. Downcast and defeated from being mistreated and looked down upon by those who believed they were superior.

"I don't want you to go." Harry said, tearing Elizabeth from her thoughts looking at him and smiling softly.

"I have to, I gave my word, besides... nothing bad will happen to me that I can't get away from." She comforted as she walked over to him, looking out the window down into the school grounds. "People know that I am going to the Malfoy Mansion for the next few days, if I was to suddenly disappear then questions that they don't want anyone to ask will be asked, I have no doubt that it's an attempt to try and get my support in whatever their plan is." A small lie on the end there, she knew that it was the original reason, invite her over, make friends and then try and use her ability like Comstock used the Lutece Twins. But the situation had changed quite drastically with Narcissa using that potion, she now saw that the power that the two of them had access was vastly different to what she thought it had been originally. The vision of the future that she had taken her to had scared her and badly at that. What thoughts had been going through her head over the last couple of weeks, what changes to her schemes had happened through Elizabeth showing her this possible outcome. Would it be for the better or could she now be planning something that would hit the Wizarding World while avoiding the return of Voldemort?

"It's not safe, Draco may not be as bad as everyone believes him to be because of who his father is... but his father will be there, I don't trust him." Harry said seriously and she remained silent for several moments.

"It's possible that everything the rumours say is true, that he was essentially second only to Voldemort, it may be true that he wasn't under whatever spell was allegedly controlling him, but we've learnt through Hogwarts that no ward he puts up will prevent me from escaping if he did try something. It would tip my hand but I'd still be alive. I have no problem with that outcome, it may even cause him to stop and think for a moment before he tries to control me, knowing that I could strike at him at any time, at any point." She spoke with a seriousness that surprised Harry for a moment before he remembered what she had told him about Columbia, not that much but enough to know that she had seen some horrible things, that she had experienced some horrible things and knew how to take care of herself if things truly went wrong.

"I still don't like it."

"Sometimes we must do things that others don't like, because it is necessary to shape what is to come for the better." She said, idly she wondered if this is how Dumbledore started losing his attachment to things, the ability to justify actions for the greater good like this and wondered if this is how Comstock truly came to decide how everything would play out. She froze, the comparison of her action to Comstock disgusting her, forcing her to pause and rethink the idea. "No, that's a bad example, thoughts along those lines can lead to horrible results. I'm doing this because I gave my word that I would go," she explained, it had been something that they had talked about a little, a person's word was important, if you couldn't take someone at their word then they were not one to trust any other time. Associate with them by all means, but don't trust them when the time comes. "I'll be back in a few days, I'm not staying the full week and Dumbledore was kind enough to organise a portkey to return me here." She said as the two turned and exited the room. "C'mon walk me down to the Great Hall." She said happily as they began their trek. "What do you have planned for the next couple of days?"

"Homework... with the amount they've piled on, I fell a bit behind. Now I don't have to spend the time researching the you know what, I'm going to work on getting that done, plus end of year exams are coming up so I should probably start studying for them." He joked lightly, he had fallen a bit behind on the work but at the same time he had generally been ahead of the work. "Other than that, Hagrid said he had something to show me so I'm going to visit him as well."

"You're getting along with him then?"

"Hagrid's a great guy, He's been around the school for so long and the amount of tales he has... not to mention some of the creatures that he's cared for." Harry commented slightly defensively, Elizabeth just smiled in response.

"He is a good man. Anyone taking the time to talk to him would be able to tell that." She agreed with him, although she hadn't spent time with the giant man, she had enjoyed the few times that she had spoken to him. "Though I get the idea that his idea of harmless doesn't exactly match up with everyone else." She said lightly, the two sharing a grin as they entered the Great Hall.

"Elizabeth, I was hoping to catch you before you got away." Bathsheda said, practically blindsiding the two of them as they stepped off the stairs, Bathsheda grabbing her arm and pulling the two of them to the side of the stairway, away from the other students that were milling around throwing curious glances at the three of them, Elizabeth and Bathsheda for her quick action and one which was mixed with amusement at the way Harry was almost pulled completely off balanced by the sudden change of direction.

"I was going to get breakfast first." Elizabeth said weakly as she steadied herself, unhooking her arm from Harry's as she looked at Bathsheda in confusion.

"I didn't know if you had already eaten, wanted to make sure I didn't miss you."

"And so, you practically tackled me off the stairway?" She asked in amusement and Bathsheda chuckled in embarrassment.

"Well I may have over reacted but considering where you're going I had to stop you before you left and give you something. Consider it an early birthday present." She said, handing a small box to Elizabeth.

She looked at it in confusion, the box was small and plain, no decoration or anything, she opened it slowly and gasped, a bracelet sat inside, several different gems attached to it, each had markings carved on them. "It's a rune bracelet, there are several different ones but you only need to know about these three at the moment." Bathsheda said, lifting the bracelet, and pointing at three gems, a blue a green and a red gem. "The blue one will act as a warning device, designed to detect any foreign potion being used on you I worked with Severus on it for about a week to set it up right, any drink or food you pick up with the hand that has this bracelet will be checked and if there is any potion detected it'll warm up against the skin." Elizabeth took the bracelet, looking at the gem, seeing the intricate runes that had been carved into it, barely taking away from the beauty of the gem. "The green one is designed to detect spells, it won't be able to tell what spell is being cast but when it detects a spell cast against you then it'll send a little shock into your arm, nothing that will make it obvious to anyone else that it has happened but enough for you to notice it."

"Wont she know if someone casts a spell on her? They're not exactly quiet." Harry questioned having not come across silent spellcasting before Bathsheda smiled politely to him.

"If only it were that easy, spells can be cast silently, in fact some of them lose efficiency if they are cast vocally, after all, it's easier to catch someone unaware with something if you're not shouting it out." Bathsheda explained to him, getting a nod in understanding she turned her attention back to Elizabeth. "The last gem is an emergency Portkey, when used, they'll know you'll use it because it's got a few ward buster runes engraved on it. Designed to shatter any wards that prevent portkey wards. Dumbledore didn't want me to give this to you because of the damage it could cause to you and the area around but he agreed it was necessary for this situation." She explained as Elizabeth put on the bracelet.

"Damage to myself? how do you mean?"

"It'll tap into your magic to fuel the ward buster, depending on how powerful the wards are, it could knock you out and knock you out cold. Use that if you don't want to use your other tools." Bathsheda said pointedly. "Take care and hopefully have a good time, but the escape is there if you need it. Keep it on you at all times."

"Where will it take me if I activate it?"

"Dumbledore keyed it into the wards, you'll reappear in the Hospital Wing. Even if you're in good condition it's better to turn up there with how draining it potentially could be." Bathsheda finished as Elizabeth slid the bracelet box into her pocket.

"Thank you, I'll take care while I'm there." She promised and Bathsheda stepped to the side allowing her to head into the Great Hall for breakfast.

"Is she really in that much trouble?" Harry asked Bathsheda, watching his friend make her way over to the Slytherin table.

"To be honest I don't think so. It's too public for them to do anything permanent to her now," Bathsheda started hesitantly. "I am working under the belief that she is going to be protected because she is an invited guest. If anything happened to her while she was there it would come back badly on them in their social circle." She explained getting a look of confusion in response. "I'll explain it to you later, go have breakfast." She said with a small smile and a slight nudge towards the Great Hall before turning and making her way up the stairs into the castle proper.

Elizabeth walked over to the Slytherin table, a space left available next to Draco that she took, Daphne Greengrass sitting next to her and on the other side she saw Pansy and Blaize who didn't give her the warmest of looks. "Morning everyone." She greeted politely getting mumbled, half tired responses. "Are many of you heading home today?" She asked and they shook their heads, not really committing to speaking now.

"Exam nerves are setting in." Draco said with a smirk, no sign of any tiredness or nervousness. "They're staying to continue studying."

"And you're not feeling nervous?" She asked with a slight smirk, "then you're either very confident or you're underestimating the situation that's coming." She joked lightly and Draco hmphed and took on an air of arrogance.

"I am a Malfoy, we succeed at whatever we do." He said smugly and Elizabeth couldn't help but chuckle.

"If you're certain," she replied with a small smile seeing Pansy rolling her eyes at his actions. "So, do we have anything planned for the few days that I'm visiting?"

"Mother has a couple of ideas but nothing has been set in stone, she wants to confirm it with you." Draco explained, she nodded in understanding, seeing the flash of a frown on Pansy's features but dismissed it. She knew that associating with the Malfoy's would draw negative attention from both 'sides' she had heard that the Parkinson family were close to the Malfoy family and that with the use of Marriage Contracts still enacted in the Wizarding World, she had a hunch there was possibly one between these two. Pansy had been cold and abrupt to her if she wasn't spoken to directly, at that point she became entirely diplomatic and polite. But there was something in her eyes that showed something ticking away, it put Elizabeth on edge slightly, although she was just a kid, she had come to understand that even that was not something someone should use as a way to dismiss someone as harmless.

"And what about you do you have any plans?" She asked Draco who after a moments pause to think, shrugged his shoulders.

"Have you ever been horse-riding?" He suggested and she shook her head. "We have a stable that have Abraxans."

"Abraxans? I haven't heard of them before. I take it they're a breed of horse?"

"Winged Horses." Draco responded with a smile, gaining a look of surprise and interest from Elizabeth.

"You've got to show me them when we get there then." She said excitement in her voice, she had read about Horse-riding, she wanted to try it and now with winged horses? she was even more intrigued by it.

She helped herself to breakfast, letting the conversation around her evolve without her input, listening to several of them talking about their exams, Daphne mentioning about struggling slightly with her charms work, the home work she had handed in was a high quality but she seemed to be struggling with the actual practical part of it. "Can I offer a suggestion?" Elizabeth interrupted Daphne and Tracey. "There's a Hufflepuff seventh Year, her name is Tonks, she'd be able to help you, she's an expert at Transfiguration from what I've seen." Elizabeth explained pointing out the pink haired Hufflepuff sitting at the Hufflepuff table. "She'd probably be willing to help you if you ask." She got nods in response though there seemed to be a bit of a look from Draco.

She didn't say anything, she'd ask later about it when the others weren't around. Less chance of making a confrontation as he tries to repeat views that his parents had given him rather than ones he had come up with on his own. "Oh, I just remembered, we won't be getting the train back to London to get back to the Manor." Draco spoke quickly, recalling a letter that had arrived yesterday.

"No? how are we getting there then?"

"Father will be at Hogsmeade with a portkey for us." Draco explained, getting a nod from Elizabeth in understanding, "you've travelled by Portkey before?"

"No, I've done side along apparation and the Knight Bus but not Portkey." There were a few smirks shared between the others at this. "I take it I'm in for a fun time with it then?" She asked getting another round of smirks, "oh... joy." She deadpanned drawing laughter from them. "That's it, take amusement from my suffering, before I even go through it." That generated more laughter, she mock sighed, bowing her head, "you lot are little sadists, aren't you?" She asked sadly before looking around with a smile, seeing the tension that the group had lifting slightly.

"So, you've got to have some clue as to what is coming with the exams."

"Smooth Tracey, very smooth." Daphne commented sarcastically drawing an indignant response from Tracey. "Never been one for subtlety, have you?"

"She knows we'd fish for clues as to what it is, why dance around the obvious?" Tracey said dismissively.

"And on that note, I think it's time we go." Draco interrupted before she could respond to them. Getting up from the table, holding his hand out to Elizabeth to help her even though it was completely unnecessary.

"And they say chivalry is dead." Daphne deadpanned getting a laugh from Tracey and a smaller snicker from Pansy although she tried to cover it up.

Draco and Elizabeth exited the Great Hall. "Did the elves come and get your gear last night?" He asked getting a nod in response.

"He seemed to be a bit skittery when he came, was he okay?"

"Elves are not meant to be seen, they prefer to work in the background without any interference or actions from us. They don't do well with interacting with Wizards and Witches." Draco explained calmly as they walked out onto the grounds towards the front carriage. "Invaluable workers though, I don't think many households can function without them." He said gaining a curious look from Elizabeth.

"With the amount of spells you have, you really think the households wouldn't cope if they were gone?" She asked in disbelief.

"We are old noble families, its beneath us to do menial labour like that." He said arrogantly, Elizabeth didn't say anything shaking her head as she stepped into the carriage.

"Is that really what you believe?"

"It's what we have servants for." He responded confidently, shutting the door behind him and banging on it to signal for the carriage to start moving. Normally it would wait for more students but with the lack of students leaving they were set to go with someone banging on the carriage if there was no one else to come.

"And what happens when the servants want to move up in their position?" She questioned as the Carriage started to move, looking at Draco who sat on the opposite bench.

"How do you mean?" Draco asked in confusion, like the whole idea was completely foreign to him.

"No one wants to be a servant forever, what happens when someone wants to move up, become their own person, not live subservient to others and create their own noble family?" Elizabeth questioned.

"It's the nature of blood, those with the right blood will stand out and stand above those that don't. It's how it has always been with this world."

"Until a revolution happens." Elizabeth countered calmly, "what happens when you keep a group oppressed? what happens when you shut off everything from them? they will lash out, a caged bird will still try to free itself if it can because it's their nature to soar through the sky." Elizabeth commented calmly.

"They'd rebel and they'd be stopped."

"How, by arresting everyone or killing them?" She asked trying to make him see through the argument that he had no doubt been taught in the past as he grew up. "You remove them and you are left with doing the jobs that you hired them to do before. See the flaw in the logic? you claim to have the power but in truth it is them that have it, they're just not seeing it now." Before Draco could respond the carriage came to a stop. "Just think about it." She requested as he opened the door, stepping out and turning offering his hand to her. "Thank you." The two walked towards the Three Broomsticks where Lucius was planning to meet with them.

"Are you ready?" Draco asked as they walked the otherwise deserted street.

"You almost sound like I should be worried about spending time at yours." She joked with him getting a small smirk.

"Not at all, you'll have a great time." Draco replied, rounding the corner to the Three Broomsticks. "There's my father." He said with a nod towards a blonde-haired man that stood outside the bar waiting for the two of them.

"I can see where you got the hair from." She said lightly before schooling herself for what was to come.

"Father," Draco greeted stiffly with a small nod. The man in question looked at Draco gave a nod of greeting and then looked at Elizabeth, "this is Miss Elizabeth DeWitt," he started the introduction. "Miss DeWitt, my father and head of the Malfoy Family, Lucius Malfoy." It was a formal greeting and Elizabeth, knowing protocol offered her hand to the man who took it and kissed it in greeting.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Miss DeWitt."

"The feeling is mutual Mr Malfoy." She responded just as formally as he let go of her hand. "Thank you for allowing me to stay at your home for the next couple of days."

"The honour is mine Miss DeWitt; my wife speaks highly of you as does my son." He responded just as calmly. "I do hope my son has been keeping up with his lessons and work and not causing you any undue problems."

"He works well, it's near the top of the class." She responded smoothly, part of her had been tempted to add that he could be higher up if he applied himself a bit better but this was neither the time or the place. "I understand that we're travelling by Portkey?" She asked, getting a nod in response. "Forgive my question but why aren't we travelling by side along apparation? I'm afraid I'm still a bit unfamiliar with the different transportation methods." She stated, watching his reaction wondering whether her lack of knowledge would spark a look of disregard but he didn't let anything slip if he thought less of her for not knowing.

"While side along apparation would be a possibility if it was just the two of us, with each person added it greatly increases the risk of Splinching, I think you would agree that such a risk for a small trip like this is not necessary." He replied smoothly getting a nod from Elizabeth in understanding, she had been told what Splinching was and was in no rush to suffer it herself.

"Thank you for answering the question." She said as Lucius withdrew a pocket watch with a longer than average chain attached to it.

"This watch has been enchanted with a Portkey charm on it, when I give the activation phrase it will transport whoever is touching it back to Malfoy Manor." He explained holding it out to Elizabeth who gingerly took it. "Draco, time to go." He ordered and Draco who had been standing back as the two introduced themselves, stepped forwards and placed his hand on the Pocket Watch. "Domum." Lucius muttered and Elizabeth shuddered as she felt a tug at her navel the world spinning around her.

Almost as soon as it started it was gone and she was regretting eating breakfast as she could feel it begin to rise in the back of her throat as she staggered, the world stopped spinning but her head didn't. She felt a hand grip her arm, steadying her, and looked to see Draco had reacted to her distress. "Are you okay? First time travelling that normally leaves people on the floor."

"I'm fine, I just need a second to gather... my... bearings..." She trailed off as she saw her first view of the place she would be staying. Malfoy Manor was huge, in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by open land. The building itself was several stories high, the walls on the outside clean and showed they were maintained to a high standard. It was an impressive looking mansion but part of her wondered if it really needed to be this big for three people.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Draco asked and she nodded.

"Welcome to Malfoy Manor," Lucius spoke and Elizabeth snapped out of her thoughts. "Draco, why don't you show our guest around?" Lucius suggested calmly. "I would offer to do it myself but I have a few more tasks to sort out before I can act as a proper host." He said as an apology to Elizabeth.

"Thank you, I understand that the world still revolves even when guests appear, do not feel the need to put yourself out to accommodate me." She said politely, getting a small nod as a dismissal as Draco led her into the Manor. As they walked into the Main Entrance, Elizabeth glanced at Draco. "What is it your father does?" She asked as Draco led her up a staircase that dominated the Entrance Hall, leading up onto the next floor and leading her down a hallway.

"He's involved in many different things, he does work at the ministry, he has several Businesses that he's involved in from Potions ingredient making and shipping to Agricultural work. There is very little that the Malfoy Family isn't involved in some shape or form." Draco said proudly.

"That's quite a legacy to live up to. Are you ready for it?"

"I still have years to prepare for it. Although I will reach my majority at Seventeen, I doubt that Father is just going to retire from public life that quickly, I'll take my time, learn what there is to learn and take over when everything is ready to do so."

"But what about what you want? is just following in the footsteps of your family what you want to do?"

"Why wouldn't it be? The Malfoy family is associated with Greatness, Wealth and Power." Draco responded in confusion not understanding why people would want to refuse that.

"There are many families in the Non-Magical world where the child, wanting to make a name for themselves has been disowned or ignored because they did not want to follow in their parent's footsteps and have gone down in history. Have you ever heard of Florence Nightingale?" Elizabeth questioned, waiting for him to respond and after a moment of thoughtfulness he nodded his head. "It was not her parents' choice for her to become a nurse, it was hers against their wishes and look where she is now, she is known by nearly everyone for what she did in the medical field which I'm sure some of that has rolled into the Wizarding World." Elizabeth explained and Draco nodded slowly in understanding and inwardly cursed as he realised this had slipped to talking about Muggle Life even if there were connections to the wizarding world. "Another example, Edgar Allan Poe, a famous writer that many credit as one of the inventors of Detective Stories, his adopted father disowned him for not following his wishes to go into the same line of work and now look at the history books. Edgar Allan Poe is synonymous with great writing among other things."

"And what about in the magical world? you're speaking about Muggles who hold less regard for things such as tradition."

"In all honesty, I couldn't say, I don't know enough about the magical world to properly give an example." She admitted bluntly.

"It doesn't happen, Tradition, family, it's everything."

"That's not entirely true." Another voice interrupted, startling the two of them. they turned around, Narcissa Malfoy having exited a room attached to the hallway they had been walking down had caught both completely by surprise.

"Mother?" Draco said in confusion.

"There is a prime example right in our family Draco." She said pointedly and Draco frowned.

"Her? but she's a blood traitor!" Draco snapped, shadows of past teachings shining through in the moment, Elizabeth studying his actions, seeing the almost robotic switch to anger at a perceived betrayal.

"She is also your Aunt by blood and probably one of the best Lawyers in the Magical World, breaking boundaries of being disowned from family and gender." Narcissa countered bluntly. "Regardless of personal views, she is a very successful person that validates Miss DeWitt's point."

"An exception doesn't disprove the rule." Draco said dismissively and Narcissa smiled.

"That will be all Draco, I believe you have Homework to do?" She questioned with a slight edge, giving the universal sign for Draco to make his departure.

"Yes Mother," he replied politely and quickly turned around and departed, opening a door stepping through and closing it with a soft click.

"I think we need to continue our conversation from before." Narcissa said calmly, not showing any sign of how she felt before. The Two walked down to the end of the Hallway, Narcissa leading the way in silence, a sense of foreboding settling in the back of her mind. She opened a door, stepping to the side, and allowing Elizabeth to enter first. "This is my private study, we should not be interrupted here." She explained as Elizabeth saw a bookcase filled with books of varying age and genre, light shone in from a window, the curtains pulled back to allow full access to view the gardens outside.

"You have a private study?" Elizabeth asked in curiosity.

"We all do, the house is big enough, a room outside of our quarters to do what business we each attend to in private. Draco has one though as you can probably expect it's more of a child's play room than anything else at his age." Narcissa said with a smirk of amusement as she stepped into the room, letting the door close behind her. "Before you ask, there are silencing wards on the rooms so that nothing inside can be heard outside, more to prevent eavesdroppers than anything else, they have been up long before you arrived and no doubt will be up long after you leave." Narcissa explained and Elizabeth nodded her head.

"And the drinks that will get delivered?" She questioned with a hint of animosity seeping in though Narcissa dismissed the tone and answered the question.

"Regardless of my actions in the past, they are clean. You answered the questions I had to have answered to protect my son, from there you can choose how you want to answer things." Narcissa explained as she walked around the desk that took up the centre of the room, pulling out her chair and sitting down. "I'm sure you can't begrudge a mother worrying about her child in the face of an unknown entity?"

"No I can't. I can't say what I would do in your shoes as I've never been in them but I cannot truly hold it against you to act in a manner to protect your child." She admitted with resignation in her voice, she wanted to hate Narcissa Malfoy for what she did, the violation of her rights but at the same time her mind just kept with the idea that her action had been the least extreme with the circumstances presented... or more to the point, they had stopped her true identity from being blown and everything being thrown out the window. Elizabeth walked over to the bookcase looking at the books that were on display. "Non-Magical Literature as well as Magical?" Elizabeth asked as she saw a couple of books with titles that she had in her collection when she was trapped in the Tower.

"Regardless of my beliefs about them I will not deny that they have creative minds that are able to bring some fantastic creations into existence. Have you heard of an Author by the name of J.R.R. Tolkien?"

She racked her brain for moment, trying to think of the name, it didn't sound familiar to her in the slightest and she shook her head. "I can't say that I have, are they someone you recommend?"

"A Muggle who wrote one of the most well-known fantasy books, there are some Wizards and witches who believe that he actually knew about our world with some of the references to magic but no one could ever prove anything."

"Huh, that's interesting... I'll have to consider it at some point." She said as she walked away from the bookcase standing behind the chair that sat at the opposite side of the desk to Narcissa.

"You can sit down, it's not enchanted or anything along those lines."

"Maybe, but I'd prefer to stand at the moment." She said calmly, knowing full well that if this was a ploy then her sitting would limit her ability to move at a moment's notice if someone did attack her. "I doubt that your book collection is what you wanted to talk about, so what is it that you want?" She asked and Narcissa looked thoughtful, turning her head, looking out the window to the grounds below.

"You showed me what will happen if You-Know-Who wins, that's a future I do not want to see happen, the destruction of everything that I've tried to make, that my family has tried to create."

"You want to know how to stop it?"

"Over this time, all I've been thinking has been in regards to that which you showed me... how to change it, what could be done to influence it away from that decision and the only thing that I can think of would destroy tradition that has held the wizarding world together for so long. I believe... though I don't wish to admit it, that my views are too... jaded for lack of a better word, I cannot think things through clearly."

"And so, you turn to me to find out what I'm willing to share?" Elizabeth asked cautiously getting a resigned nod from Narcissa. "Not how I expected this to go but as you can probably tell, I didn't think highly about this entire situation to begin with. To truly avoid that, I mean avoid it at all costs the Wizarding World needs to be turned upside down and Inside Out." She said bluntly and Narcissa sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she saw the truth in the words being spoken. "I'm not saying remove tradition entirely, Tradition as a foundation can work but the separation of people due to blood is going to tear the world apart. Even through the limited time I've been here I can see the undercurrents forming."

"But what you are asking... The Dark Families would never agree to such a radical change, not without explaining why the change would need to be done."

"No." Elizabeth interrupted bluntly, "The fact that you know is bad enough, they cannot be allowed to know what I can do."

"On that we agree, it was lucky that I was the one that found out about your ability and not any of the other families, they would not be as kind as to let you walk freely with what you can do."

"Of that I have no doubt." Elizabeth said sharply, "they would try and they would fail," she spoke confidently and Narcissa laughed.

"Oh child, you are so ignorant to our ways and our capabilities, do not think you could escape just because you have yet to see what we can truly do." Narcissa warned and Elizabeth found herself silently agreeing but didn't say anything, there were still too many unknowns for her to truly confirm that she could escape if they really wanted to keep her hostage. "Which leads us back to the point, what do we do to fix things?"

It was a sensitive game that Narcissa was playing, not that she'd ever say it aloud. Every time Narcissa said something to try and focus Elizabeth's attention there would be snippets of information that she could glean with passive Legilimency, she wasn't actively trying to read it but she wasn't trying to stop from listening to the items that were being almost broadcasted, her mind was a veritable treasure trove of possibilities and ideas that Narcissa had every intention of taking advantage of. "Fixing things will take time but each action... you'll need to appeal to people... give them something they don't want masked as something they do want."

"Time, I did not expect this to be a quick task, the question is, do we have enough time?" Narcissa asked more herself than Elizabeth as she turned to look out the window again, it was something that relaxed her, something that allowed her to forget about everything, just focus on the beauty of the nature that was right outside her home. "But that is something we should continue to talk about later, my son was starting a tour of the house was he not?" At the nod, she continued. "Then perhaps, you'll allow me to continue it?"

HPCVHPCV

Meanwhile at Hogwarts things were taking a turn for the interesting with Harry upon his visit to Hagrid. The Hut had smoke billowing from the Chimney, the curtains were drawn shut and Fang had been left outside, Hagrid had asked to see him and he wasn't to bring anyone else with him.

That was enough to put Harry on edge, Hagrid didn't seem to dislike the others but maybe it was for reasons that had his hut shrouded in smoke and secrecy. Harry stepped up to the door knocking on it and waiting, glancing at Fang who was barely awake, watching him through tired eyes. The door creaked open and Hagrid stood looking at him through the crack in the door. "Ah, Harry I'm glad you could make it." Hagrid stepped back, opening the door wider and Harry went to step in but stopped as a wave of hit crashed over him.

"Hagrid, why is it so hot in here?" He asked in surprise as he recovered and stepped into the hut, already he could feel sweat starting to form on his brow at the sudden change in temperature.

"Has to be Harry, Gotta keep it at a certain temperature, otherwise I'd have the windows open. It's why Fangs outside, didn't want him to suffer the heat." Hagrid explained as he moved around to make a cup of tea for Harry. As he did so, Harry caught glimpse of something in the fireplace, a black object that looked to be shaped like an egg.

"What is that?" Harry asked, walking over to the fireplace.

"That? Well, that's what I wanted to show you Harry. I figured since you knew about Fluffy... Really shouldn't have told you about him, you'd be interested in seeing this," he placed the cup down on the table then moved back over to the fire place. "It's a dragon egg."

"It's a What!?"

TBC

Chapter 15 is here and I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 16 is almost completed. I'm on the last little section now.

Chapter 17 is going to hopefully be the end of the main part of Year One.

After I finish year one I'm going to be taking a little break from the writing to try and both plan things through a bit more and then also spend a bit more time writing it out. At the moment I'm barely keeping up with where I want to be.

That and I've got a couple of family things coming up that are going to occupy my time for a little while.